Sudden Flight

"Sudden Flight" at the Altromondo Gallery Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences 2014. Chiqui Rodriguez’ body of work, “Sudden Flight,” speaks of the woes of Diaspora and the joy of
sacrifice’s worth. The artist’s expressions are subtle, as she intends for the paintings to speak for themselves. But perhaps to some it would be evident from the collection’s name and the
individual pieces’ references to love that between the vibrant hues of acrylic and the canvas lies a narrative of the Overseas Filipino Worker’s plight. “Sudden Flight” traces its origin from
Rodriguez’ unexpected encounters with Filipino workers in Brussels in 2013. It was there and then that she took to heart the stories of their difficulties and even more so the solace they found in knowing how the families they leave behind benefit from their sacrifice. Inspired by the experience, she visualized her emotional responses through a process that
began with an electronic sketchpad and lead to expressions, that according to the artist, referred to layers of meaning – sudden bursts of happiness, excitement as reaching out lives of
far-flung Filipinos extending compassion, moments of bliss. She gives life to these concepts through unique color-blending techniques that include what she refers to as “advection,”
wherein gem-like impressions are formed via displacement of paint either by force or gravity.